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The best time to visit India

India is such a vast country that the climatic conditions in the far north bear very little relation to those in the extreme south. While it is monsoon season in the tropical south, there is snow in the northern Himalayan regions. As a general rule the climate in the north of India is cooler, central India is hot and dry and the south is tropical (hot, humid and wet).

The weather chart shows the average daily minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius and the average monthly precipitation.

India Seasons

India has a three-season year known as the hot, the wet and the cool. The coolest and driest time to visit is between October and February. Temperatures during this time are ideal for sightseeing. Following this period is the hot and dry season which runs from around March through to May, when temperatures reach their peak. During this time the heat can be intense particularly in Rajasthan and lofty hill stations such as Darjeeling and Shimla provide a popular respite from the heat.

June to July signals the start of the monsoon or wet season that continues until around the end of September and affects the whole country. It is very humid during this time of year and the days are punctuated by intermittent rainfall. National parks are closed during the monsoon season(excluding Periyar which remains open).

During November and December there is a second, shorter monsoon,which affects India’s east coast. The states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka receive most of their rainfall during this time.